Wolfkit’s Apprentice Ceremony

ShadowClan’s ranks were growing. Hawktalon glanced at the Jaggedrock. There was a ceremony to be done for another of the kits meeting the six-moon mark. The gray and brown tabby stretched, yawned, and leapt onto the rock. At least they hadn’t seen much of the rogues recently. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!” He sat down and wrapped his tail over his paws, blinking warmly at the crowd. His eyes strayed towards the nursery, betraying the purpose of the ceremony.

The tom shook out his fur, messing up the way it had been so delicately groomed to frame his face, and scrunched up his nose as the thought of looking well maintained entered his skull. That was absolutely not to happen under any circumstances he declared to himself, before answering the summons. He had been waiting for a few days for this ceremony - any cat would've known had they paid attention to his pacing around camp - and now it was here, he was more impatient for it to conclude than anything else. Wolfkit strode toward Jaggedrock, mint eyes trained on the deputy. He hoped for a good mentor, worrying briefly he would end up with one of the female warriors, who were bound to be far more incompetent than one of the toms he admired.

Wolfkit knew it was his time, and he was clearly ready. Hawktalon saw no reason to delay the ceremony furthur, so he dipped his head to the tom and said, "Wolfkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day forth, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Wolfpaw. Your mentor shall be Sootheart." He nodded and leapt down from the rock, giving Wolfpaw a friendly tail flick as he strode past.

His jaw went a little slack as he heard his mentors name be called out, and he stared after Hawktalon in utter dismay. A- a female warrior teaching him? But she couldn't! There was no way in StarClan a female warrior could teach him the same as a male. Wolfpaw was horrified and disgusted-- he could barely look at his mentor, believing her to be completely incompetent of teaching him the necessary skills of a warrior. Hawktalon had now disappeared from sight, leaving the new apprentice to sit dazed and confused. Begrudgingly he completed the ceremony, touching his nose to hers, but immediately pulling away to wipe his nose with his paw. He would just have to teach himself. Or see if one of the more competent male warriors would teach him. Yes, that's what I'll do, the tom decided, making his way to the apprentice den to create a nest for himself.

Sootheart walked up to her new apprentice to touch noses with him, but the younger cat soon surprised her as he pulled away to wipe his nose. What is he doing? Why is he wiping his nose? She tilted her head in confusion, having completely no idea what was going on with this young apprentice. Is he just...being too nervous? Maybe she should not worry much, or should she? She only hoped things would turn out to be good when his training starts.